Drying unit



P. J. MURRAY Aug. 31-, 1937..

DRYING UNIT Filed July 23, 1934 Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNlTED STAT DRYING 'UNIT Application July 23, 1934, Serial No. 736,602

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to a form for mounting stockings, socks or the like, herein conventionally called stockings; for the drying thereof.

A purpose of the invention is to provide a wire supporting rails, preferably upturning and transversely joining the other ends of the rails and using their transverse connecting portion to limit downward movements of the forms at the corresponding other ends of the rails.

A further purpose is to provide friction between telescoping parts of an extensible toe or foot portion of a form in order to permit the telescoping parts to move freely in both directions but to be held in such position.

A further purpose is to cover a transverse guard across the frame, using suitable material to protect the stocking from markings or injury and preferably using upbends at the ends of the transverse guard to act as lateral protection for the forms.

A further purpose is to mount the corresponding ends of a plurality of stocking forms and the upturned ends of spaced supporting rail portions of a supporting stand upon individual hubs, and to hinge the hubs and preferably adjustably press them together at the coaxial perforations thereof.

A further purpose is to carry the forms for a pair of stockings on a wire stand, hinging the stand at one end to hub portions of the forms and at the other end presenting a guard across the planes of the forms, protecting the mounted stockings from any engagement with structure seating the stand.

A further purpose is to provide a stocking form with novel and easily effective means for adjustably modifying the length of the foot portion of the form.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

One main embodiment only is shown among various possible embodiments of the invention. Modifications also are shown. Both the main embodiment and the modifications which have been selected are practical and' efficient in operation and well illustrate the principles involved.

. Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a desirable embodiment of the invention, with the forms for a pair of stockings shown in low and raised positions respectively by full-lines and by fragmentary dot-and-dash lines, respectively.

Figures 2 and 2a illustrate slightly different embodiments, both of which may in front elevation correspond to Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary enlarged scale elevations in part in section and illustrating structural details.

Figures 5a, 5band5c are fragmentary reduced scale elevations of modifications.

Figure 6 is a fragment, corresponding generally to an enlarged scale portion of Figure 211, but in part section and illustrating a minor modification.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary side elevation, corresponding generally to a portion of Figure 1 but showing a minor modification.

Figures 8 and 9 show in topplan view and in fragmentary perspective a further modification.

Like numerals refer to like parts in all figures.

Describing in illustration and not in limitation and referring to the drawing:

The structures of Figures 1 to 3 include preferably duplicate forms In and H and a stand or frame l2, with the forms and stand hinged together at I3.

Each form is shown as comprising a hub I4, 2. body l5 and a foot I6, the foot being preferably extensibly adjustable. The illustration of the foot may in any set position be considered as a conventional showing of any foot structure, adjustable or not, suited to cooperate with the broader features of the invention, but at the same time is intended to show specific structure embodying an important optional detail of the invention.

The hub I4 is preferably a disc perforated at right angles to the plane of the form and of thickness suitably greater than that of the rod or heavy wire outlining the form.

Any desired lateral spacing may be provided between the adjacent forms by selecting the hubs M of thicknesses suitably greater than that of the rod or wire outlining the body portions of the forms or/and by inserting one or more hubs or washers ll (Figures 2a; and 6) between the hub portions of adjacent forms, or/and by the flare of the forms outwardly away from each other as seen in Figures 2 and 6.

The wire or rod structure of each form connects to the hub'at preferably opposite sides thereof in suitable radial bores, extending at l8 and I9 away from the hub to receive ends 20 and 2! which are sprung into line from dotted positions shown in Figure 4. Through bends 22 and 23 the form then follows in the plane of the hub the general outer contour of an elongated fiattened stocking.

In the preferred embodiment the rod is provided with parallel foot extensions 24 and 25 that end in an intermediate portion of the foot. These extensions telescope adjustably into the open arms of a tubular U 26. It has been found that the fitting between the exteriors of the ex tensions 2L; and 25 and the interiors of the U arms made conveniently and commercially can be close enough to provide both considerable friction and an appreciable air seal between the atmosphere and the unfilled hollow portion of the U.

For short periods following any shift in the telescoping extension of the U with respect to the extensions 24 and 25 of the form there is a material difference of pressure between that inside and that outside the hollow portion of the U. This quickly dissipates, leaving the initial resistance to shifting movement largely that due to friction.

In Figure 3 the friction of the metal tube and rod contact alone and/or the air seal formed by a fairly close fit of these parts accomplish the purpose.

In Figure 5a the wires 24 and 25' are slightly out of parallel. This is shown as a flare toward the opening for the reason only that it is more convenient to pull the ends toward each otherwhich can be done with one hand-than to push them apart.

In Figure 5b the ends of the U-shaped tube 26 are slightly fiared toward the open end for the same reason as in Figure 5a.

In Figure 5c, suited better than the others for rods of small cross-section, the ends 24 or 25 or both of them, is or are slightly bowed and this bowing may be in any plane. For convenience of illustrating it is shown within the plane of the paper.

In all of the forms in which spring of the metal is taken advantage of, the common effect is produced of throwing one or otheror it may be bothof the telescoping parts out of alignment so that a slight bending of the metal or additional frictional pressure is produced in forming the metal to metal telescopic contact.

The fit of the rod into the tube of the telescoping parts may readily be made close enough so that the normal out of straight condition of the rod and tube as used will produce all of the friction which is required, but recognize that a poorer fit can be used with deliberate bending of the rod or tube to produce artificial or increased friction; the purpose being in any event to have just enough friction, or just enough combined friction and air seal, to hold the parts in set position, free to be moved in either direction without requirement for any outside or supplemental device to hold them in the position in which they have been set.

Each form may be adjusted with each individual stocking boarded upon it, either by pulling the U end into a longer foo-t length than that for which it was previously set or by pulling or pushing the U in to fit a stocking of shorter foot length.

Because of expense, difiiculty of access and danger of injury to the stockings it is very desirable that no supplemental or additional means or mechanism shall be required to hold the U- shaped tube in its adjusted position, other than by means of the telescopingparts. It makes no difference, however, where friction held, whether the parts be held in position effectively by the friction of normal fit with movement to increase or reduce the air pressure in the U-shaped tube or by friction due to the spring of the metal; and the different forms shown demonstrate this.

Except as the adjustment is set for any continued use on one size of stocking the empty forms preferably are left with the foot portions in collapsed position as seen in solid lines until the stockings are mounted upon them. The extensible toe is then grasped through the stocking and is: extended so that the form assumes a position with the U as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 3.

The air seal protects against sudden excessive movement of the U toe portion but even where air seal is planned, the hollow portion of the U soon attains atmospheric pressure after any change in position. Reliance may be had upon friction alone.

It will be noted that the trombone form of adjustment shown With the tubing at the toe end gives a highly desirable operation in that the stocking which is wet and is being boarded is expanded to the larger size of the tubing smoothly and easily by the curve of the tubing at the end and passes from the larger size of the tubing to the smaller size of the wire telescoped within it, that is, from a larger to a smaller size during the boarding operation. This gives a minimum of friction at the joint between parts at the time when the stocking is most sensitive. When the stocking is being removed it is dry and not only can better stand any friction which there may be in passage from the' smaller wire size to the larger size but when dry does not cling as closely to the form as. is the case when it is wet.

I prefer to cross connect the upper and lower members of the form at a point between the heel and the foot extensions 34 and 25, by a connection 21. As illustrated this is a cross rod welded at 28 and 28' to the upper and lower rods of the form.

The guard or stand H as illustrated comprises horizontally spaced side bars 29 and 30 which are adapted to rest upon any suitable supports illustrated as spaced at 3| and 32.

The bars as shown have upward extensions, at one end fitting into hubs 33 which form part of the hinge l3, and at the other end to a rest, stop or guard 34. At the hinge the hubs 33 are similar to the hubs M of the individual forms. All the hubs may be alike and may be uniform with the spacing discs. The hubs are held together by any suitable bolt having for example a wing nut 35 at one end and .a wing nut or head 36 at the other (Figure 2). A carriage bolt head 3'! (Figures 2a and 6) may be used at the other end.

It will be obvious that where the carriage bolt head is used there should be desirably the usual square connection at 31 between the bolt and the adjacent hub to prevent turning of the bolt when operating the wing nut.

The hubs are pressed together by tightening the wing nut, permitting the forms to be set at any desired angular position with respect to one another or/and with respect to the stand and-to be tightened in this position.

The upward extensions of the outer ends of the stop 34 preferably pass at 38 into return bend portions some distance higher than the cross connection 34'. The return bend portions at 38 higher than the stop 34 serve a double function, as lateral guards preventing undue lateral movements. of the outer form ends when these ends are resting loosely on the stop 34, and of better retaining a protective cover-34a about the stop 34.

The drying forms of the pair maybe made parallel as in Figure 2a, or may flare as in Figure 2. Any number and distribution of washers I"! may be used to space the forms. The washer ll between the hubs spaces them.

The sides 2El'and 3B of the stand I2 preferably diverge somewhat where only two forms are used.

In'Figures 1, 2 and 2a the length of the bars is only a little less than that of the forms. When intended for domestic use the long bars adapt the loaded forms to be carried betweenwidely spaced supports 39 and 40,- such as th'eopposite sides of a domestic bath tub.

In other cases special conditions may make a shorter standpreferable, as illustrated in Figure 7. In either event the loaded forms may be held either in horizontal or inclined position. The

- horizontal position is advantageous from the standpoint of reducing likelihood of inadvertent upsets during-the period of drying. On the'other hand drying'in raised inclined positions, particularly in the form of Figure 7, is advantageous from the standpoint of lessened requisite available horizontal space, since the drying operation then takes up less horizontal room.

Very frequently, in domestic use, the supports at'39 and 40 of the stand may comprise the top of a radiator;

In Figures 2 and 2a. is illustrated a stand carrying but a single pair of forms but it will be understood a single stand may be combined with any desired number of pairs of forms (Figure 6).

Figures 8 and 9 are intended forthe purpose merely of illustrating that the forms may be mounted'outside of the side bars of the stand instead of inside, the forms I0 and II lying'wholly on the outside of the side bars of the stand 12. The stand is laterally extended near the foot ends of the forms'to provide support against rocking and to give width for the stop 34. As in the other forms" lateral support is given above the stop to prevent the forms from being shifted sideways to' an undue extent.

The surfaces presented by-the forms and also by the stand are desirably such as will neither stain-wet and drying fabric nor themselves rust. In operation the friction hold at the hubsis released and the forms are lifted to position at which conveniently the stockings can be placed upon them. This can be done one at a time, or all of the forms can be lifted and the stockings boarded upon them. Whether one, or morethan one, form be lifted it, or they, can-be held in. raised position, partly as in dot and dash in Figure 1, or all the way up as preferred. After boarding the friction fastening is released and the boarded stocking is allowed to return to its normal position, as in Figure l, where it dries quickly with an excellent uniform flat "finish, whether it be a gloss or a dull finish, as determined by the initial preparation, or previous treatment of the stockings.

As is very well known stockings dried while boarded have a very much more uniform plane surface than those which are not boarded during drying and the appearance of which as a consequence is clouded by wrinkles and irregular crinkles too deep to stretch out into a plane surface whenc the stocking isdrawn upon the leg.

In View of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident drying stockings or the like, a stand for the same including laterally spaced bars to rest upon any suitable support, an upward extension from the stand at one end thereof, a hinge connection between an upper portion of the extension and the forms at the corresponding ends thereof, and a stop above the level of the bars engaged by the forms at a distance from the hinge connection limiting the angular downward movement of the forms with respect to the stand during the drying operation, whereby the stand is adapted to carry the forms in approximately horizontal position and wholly higher than the bars.

2. A plurality of laterally spaced forms for drying stockings or the like, a stand for the same, including laterally spaced bars to rest upon any suitable support, an upward extension from the stand at one end thereof, a hinge connection behorizontal position and wholly higher than thebars.

drying stockings or the like, a stand for the same including laterally spaced bars to rest upon any suitable support, an upward extension from the stand at one end thereof, a pivoted connection between an upper portion of the extension and the forms at the corresponding ends thereof, and a stop above the level of the bars engaged by the forms at a distance from the hinge connection limiting the angular downward movement of the forms with respect to the stand, whereby the stand is adapted to carry the forms in approximately horizontal position and wholly higher than the bars,-each form comprising a perforated hub and a rod connected thereto and carried thereby, extending away from the hub into and along the general outer contour of a flattened stocking and with thepivoted connection along a common axis of hub perforations.

4. A plurality of laterally spaced forms for drying stockings or the like, a stand for the same including laterally spaced bars to rest upon any suitable support, an upward extension from the stand at one end thereof, each form comprising a perforated hub of large lateral frictional engaging surface with respect to its rod section and a rod connected thereto and carried there-.

by and extending upwardly and outwardly away from the hub into and along the outer general contour of a flattened stocking, hubs connected with the ends of the stand, a pintle passing 3. A plurality of laterally spaced forms for through the hubs of the forms and of the stand and means for laterally pressing the hubs tightly together in adjusted position.

5. A plurality of laterally spaced formsfor dry-.

ing stockings or the like, a stand for the same including laterally spaced bars to rest'upon any suitable support and hubs, one for each form, rigidly connected to a rearward end of the form intermediate the Width thereof, a common hinge connection between theforms and stand at the corresponding ends thereof, the bars terminating at the end away from the hinge in an integral uniting portion across the planes of the forms, providing a guard for limiting the lateral and downward movements of the forms and higher than the bars.

6. A plurality of laterally spaced forms for drying stockings or the like, a stand for the same including laterally spaced bars to rest upon any suitable support, a hinge connection between the stand and the forms at the corresponding ends thereof, and means limiting the angular downward movement of the forms with respect to the stand whereby the stand is adapted to carry the forms in approximately horizontal position and wholly higher than the bars, the stand comprising laterally spaced hub portions of the hinge, a rod connecting at its ends to the respective hub portions and intermediate its ends extending away from the hub portions first downwardly in the hub planes, then horizontally in the hub planes to provide the bars, then upwardly with a uniting high portion across the planes of the forms to provide a guard limiting the downward movement of the forms during the drying operation and a protective covering surrounding the rod along the said uniting portion thereof.

7. In a form for drying stockings, a rod extending into and thence along the general outer contour of a. flattened stocking from the openend thereof to an intermediate portion of the foot and presenting shanks in the foot portionv of said contour in combination with a U member having tubular arms telescoping over the shanks with air trapping friction fit over the shanks to provide an adjustably expansible foot adapting the foot to be adjusted to take up the length of a stocking foot and resisting movement because of the friction fit and air trapping.

8. A plurality of stocking forms of strip material outlining the fiat stockings intended to be mounted upon them, disc hubs united one each to the leg ends of the respective forms, a stand for the forms, comprising a stop for limiting movement of the forms to a position of the forms above the bottom of the stand and side strip material united to the stop, extending below the lowermost position of the forms and rearwardly toward the leg ends of the forms, a pair of disc hubs united to the ends of the strip material and coaxial with the hubs for the forms and bolt fastening means for pivoting the hubs upon the bolt and for pressing the hubs for the forms against the hubs for the stand.

-9. A stand for stocking forms comprising a plurality of side bars extending generally longitudinally of the forms, a stop holdingthe bars together at one end and higher than the side bars, and hubs for the opposite ends of the side bars, in combination with stocking forms adapted to rest normally on the stop, hubs rigid with the forms and means frictionally pressing the hubs together and adapted by frictional engagement to hold the stocking forms in raised position with respect to the stand.

10. A stand for stocking forms comprising a plurality of side bars extending generally longitudinally of the forms, a stop holding the bars together at one end and higher than the side bars, and hubs for the opposite ends of the side bars in combination with stocking forms adapted to' rest normally on the stop, hubs rigid with the forms and bolt means uniting the hubs and adapted by frictional engagement to hold the stocking forms in raised position with respect to the stand, the hubs for the stocking forms being outside of the hubs for the stand.

11. Astand for stocking forms comprising a plurality of side bars extending generally longitudinally of the forms, a stop holding the bars together at one end and higher than the side bars, and hubs for the opposite ends of the side bars, in combination with stocking forms adapted to rest normally on the stop, hubs rigid with the forms and bolt means uniting the hubs and adapted by frictional engagement to hold the stocking forms in raised position with respect to the stand, the hubs for the side bars lying outside of the hubs for the forms and adapted to press the hubs for the forms between them.

12. A stocking form having a leg portion, a heel portion and projecting separated rod ends incomplete toform the toe, in combination with a U -shaped tubular toe-member telescoping over the separated rod ends and adapted to hold thereon. by frictional engagement due Wholly to the friction between the telescoping parts.

13. A stocking form comprising front and back rods forming the outline of the stretched stocking and terminating in open rod ends at the foot of the stocking, in combination with a U-shaped tubular toe member adapted to fit over the rod ends and thus allow the stocking when wet to slide over a larger toe portion to a smaller adjoining foot portion.

14. A stocking form having spaced open rod ends at the foot of the stocking in combination with a U-shaped toe-member having hollow walls which, when separated from the rod ends, are out of alignment with the rod ends and which Walls fit over the rod ends, when the rod ends and walls are brought nearer to alignment and are held in place by friction between the parts due to the tendency for lack of alignment between the telescoping parts.

PATRICK JOSEPH MURRAY. 

